The Cleansing of the Temple
A. COURT OF THE GENTILES - HOLY, PART OF THE TEMPLE.
1. Jews defiled it, filled with livestock, merchants, moneychangers.
2. Gentiles worshipped here.
3. Not peaceful and quiet expected in a place of worship.
B. FILLED WITH ZEAL, JESUS DROVE OUT WHAT DIDN'T BELONG.
C. DOES THE TEMPLE NEED CLEANSING TODAY?
A. BUILT ON A FOUNDATION( Eph. 2:20 ).
B. MEMBERS HAVE A ROLE( vs. 21 ).
C. GOD DWELLS IN US( vs. 21-22 ).
D. EVERY HOUSE NEEDS SWEEPING OCCASIONALLY.
1. Division( 1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 1:27 ).
2. Arrogance( Eph. 4:1-3 ).
3. Complacence( Rev. 2:4; 3:1; 3:14-19 ).
4. Doctrinal error( Acts 20:28-31; 2 Tim. 4:2-4 ).
5. Unfaithful members( Gal. 6:1-2; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15 ).
E. JESUS LEFT US A CLEAN HOUSE( Eph. 5:25-27 ).
A. AN EXPRESSION OF DEEP INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP( John 17:20-21 ).
B. EXPRESSION OF REPRESENTATION( John 14:6-10; Phil. 2:12-13 ).
C. IN US THEY SEE SOMETHING OF GOD( 1 Pet. 2:9, 11-12 ).
D. DO WE NEED A BATH?
1. Impure thoughts( Phil. 4:8 ).
2. Sinful associations( 1 Cor. 15:33 ).
3. Rom. 12:1-2. Sinful pattern.
4. Worldly purposes( 1 John 2:15 ).
5. Youthful lusts( 2 Tim. 2:22 ).
6. Stumbling blocks for others( Rom. 14:21; Matt. 18:5-7 ).
7. Occasions for reviling( 1 Tim. 5:14; Titus 2:7-8 ).
8. All defilement of flesh and spirit( 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Thess. 5:22 ).
E. Phil. 2:14-16. ARE WE LIGHTS IN A DARK WORLD?
A. THE APOSTLES WERE EYE-WITNESSES( Acts 3:14-15 ).
B. WE HAVE HOPE( 2 Cor. 4:13-14 ).
C. THE RESURRECTION HAS CONSEQUENCES( John 5:28-29 ).
D. ARE OUR TEMPLES CLEAN?( 1 John 1:6-7 ).